Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
WILBER "LYNN" MAYNOR
Wilber "Lynn" Maynor, 44, of Valley Center, died June 17, 1997. He was a Cessna Aircraft Co. employee. Funeral services were Saturday morning at Asbury United Methodist Church, Wichita.
Survivors include his parents, Joe and Jean Maynor of Valley Center, and brothers, Dale Maynor of Wichita, Gale Maynor of Dallas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with St. Francis Foundation-Osteogeric Sarcoma, and the church.
HARRIET J. WEBSTER
Harriet J. Webster, 79, of Wichita, mother of Shirley Schuessler of Valley Center, died June 20, 1997. She was a retired physical therapist. Funeral services were Tuesday afternoon at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita.
Other survivors include her son, Robert of Kirkland, Wash.; daughter, Betty Jacobs of Overland Park; brother, Morris Huson of Wichita; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Wichita Eye Bank.
BILL FITZWATER
Word was received last week of the death of Al and Lavona Hobson's nephew, Bill Fitzwater, 45, of Enid, Okla. He and his wife, Janet, were in Jamaica, celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, when he died of a heart attack.
Bill was president of Triangle Cooperative Service Co.
JAMES H. REXROAT
James H. "Foote" Rexroat, 47, of Rose Hill, father of April Lechner of Park City and brother of Daniel Rexroat of Valley Center, died June 22, 1997. He was a retired rancher and Groendyke Transport dispatcher. Funeral services were Wednesday afternoon at Cochran Mortuary, Wichita.
Other survivors include his wife, Jamey; sons, James Tyson, Ivan Sloan, both of Rose Hill; daughters, Kelly Jo Rexroat of Rose Hill, Darcy Rexroat of San Diego; father, Ivan of Rose Hill; half-sister, Ann Hauser of Kansas City, and three grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association.
JAMES I. LEDGERWOOD
James I. "Jim" Ledgerwood, 72, of Whitewater, father of Marilyn Zimmerman of Valley Center, died June 22, 1997. He was a retired school superintendent, principal and teacher. Funeral services were Wednesday morning at Whitewater Federated Church.
Other survivors include his sons, Terry of Whitewater, Steve of Eureka; stepsons, Raymond Spedding of Marietta, Ga., Charles Spedding of Wichita, Shawn Spedding of Lee's Summit, Mo.; stepdaughter, Debby Hardman of Andover; brother, Bill of Cambridge; sister, Ileen of Winfield, and 13 grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Wheat State Manor Alzheimer's Unit. Bob Lamb Funeral Home had charge.
SYDNEY ELLEN JENNINGS
Sydney Ellen Jennings, 63, of McPherson, co-owner of the McDonald's franchise in Park City, Newton and McPherson, died May 21, 1997. Services were Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, McPherson.
Survivors include her husband, Paul; son, David of McPherson; daughters, Mary of Brookline, Mass., Virginia Klein of McPherson, Karen of Irving, Texas; mother, Peggy Roach, and a sister, Leaun White, both of Centerville, Iowa; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial has been established in lieu of flowers with the Ronald McDonald House, c/o Accent on Kids Inc., 1110 N. Emporia, Wichita, or the St. Joseph's Catholic Church building fund.
Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home had charge.
LEON L. "RED" McGAUGH
Leon L. "Red" McGaugh, 73, retired Boeing Wichita machinist and tool builder, died May 21, 1997. He was the father of Larry McGaugh of Park City.
Services were Tuesday at Hillside Funeral Home East.
Other survivors include a son, Lester of Wichita; daughters, Kyna Rutledge of Andover and Debra Robison of Wichita; and 11 grandchildren.
MARY C. GILBERT
Mary C. Gilbert, 78, of Valley Center, homemaker, died May 22, 1997. Funeral services were Saturday afternoon at Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena, with her grandson, Robert Parker, officiating.
She was born March 16, 1919, in Orongo, Mo., the daughter of Harry Johnson and Mary M. Wasson. She married Don C. Gilbert Nov. 10, 1936, in Joplin, Mo. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughters, Diane Gilbert of Galena, Evelyn Welch of Blackwell, Okla., Linda Parker of Wichita, Patricia Hayes of Carl Junction, Mo.; sister, Nettie Miller of Fort Smith, Ark.; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
FRITZ VERBOOM
Fritz Verboom, 78, Wichita, retired foreman for Cessna Aircraft, died May 26, 1997. He was born April 13, 1919, in Wichita to John Verboom Sr. and Marie Elizabeth Fack Verboom.
Services are at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at Resthaven Chapel, Wichita.
Survivors include a caregiver, Don Garison, Wichita; brother, John Verboom Jr., Wichita; nephew, Jan Verboom, Wichita; and nieces, Cynthia Ricker and Linda Bowling, both of Wichita.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association.
BONNIE MATTHEWS
Bonnie Matthews, 74, Herington homemaker, mother of Terry Triplett and sister of Zephyr Cole of Valley Center, died May 25, 1997. Services are at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at Greenwood Cemetery, Council Grove.
Other survivors include her husband, Robert; sons, Robert Hawes of Las Vegas, Gary Hawes of Reno, Nev.; daughters, Darlene Sitzes of Illinois, Penney Rowland of California; stepson, Robert of Herington; stepdaughter, Christine Forjfattville of North Carolina; brothers, Roger Heaton of Wichita, Homer Meaton of Hemet, Calif., Raymond of Mannford, Okla.; sisters, Esther Tiede and Karen Sisson of Herington; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Brockmeier Funeral Chapel has charge.
ROSS HENDERSON
Ross Henderson, 83, of Wichita, died May 22, 1997.
He was a retired Valentine Manufacturing Co. employee. Funeral services were Tuesday at Resthaven Mortuary.
Survivors include his wife, Cassie, and half-brothers Ivan Tompleson of Oregon City, Ore., and Marlin Farris of Moses Lake, Wash.
DUSTIN JAMES FRY
Dustin James Fry, 18, of Sedgwick, died May 15, 1997, in a car-train accident near Sedgwick.
He was a Sedgwick High School senior. Services were May 18 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newton.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Leigh Ann and Ron Charles of Sedgwick; father and stepmother, James and Jackie Fry of Virgil; sister, Laura Fry of Sedgwick; stepbrothers, Jeff Charles of Wichita, Larry Charles of El Dorado; grandparents, Richard McGinn, Harold and Betty Fry, all of Sedgwick; stepgrandparents, Lester and Helen Charles of Wichita, Mary Tucker of Sedgwick, and great-grandmother, Evelyn McGinn of Sedgwick.
Petersen Funeral Home, Newton, had charge.
Kenneth Lee Duncan
Kenneth Lee Duncan, 60, of Valley Center, farmer and truck driver, died May 18, 1997. Funeral services were Wednesday morning at Fairview Cemetery, 1/4 mile south of 77th North and Rock Rd., with Rev. Clifford Winters of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church officiating.
He was born June 30, 1936, in Wichita, the son of Charles Lester Duncan and Vera Ruth Strickland. His mother survives. He married Shirley Jean Black April 24, 1955. She survives.
Other survivors include his sons, Craig Allen Duncan, Joshua Lloyd Duncan, both of Valley Center; daughters, Teresa Lynn Russell of Wichita, Kathleen Ruth Wiechman of Valley Center; sisters, Eleanor Jean Young of Wisconsin, Marjorie Anne Purkey of Valley Center, and six grandchildren, Amanda Duncan, Crystal Wiechman, Gary Wiechman, Kenneth Wiechman, Kaylee Wiechman.
A memorial has been established with the American Diabetes Association.
Devin Eugene Williams
Devin Eugene Williams, 28, of Americaus, grandson of Mary Williams of Valley Center, was found dead May 2, 1997. He was a Flint Hills Transportation Co. cross-country trucker. Funeral services are at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Americus Cemetery.
Other survivors include his wife, Marylou; son, Wade, daughters, Lanette, Sierra, all at home; father and stepmother, Vern and Jennie Williams of Pomona; mother and stepfather, Betty and Alan Alexander of Farley, Mo.; brother, Kevin Williams of Blue Springs, mo.; sister, Stephanie Alexander of Farley; stepsisters, Frankie Schumann oif Emporia, Carol Allender of Pomona, and grandparents, Orin and Dorothy Frevele of Humboldt.
Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia, has charge.
CONNIE JO HANSON
Connie Jo Hanson, 36, of Wellington, stepmother of Jennifer Hanson of Valley Center, died July 20, 1997. She was a former Topeka resident and Hanson Motor and Machine Supply co-owner. Funeral services are at 2:30 p.m. today (Thursday) at Penwell-Gabel Highland Chapel, Topeka.
Other survivors include her husband, Dell; daughter, Paige Hanson of Wellington; father, Edward Young of Topeka, and sisters, Christine Lockard of Tecumseh, Sharon Copeland of Topeka.
Frank Funeral Home has charge.
ROSS D. GREENFEATHER
Ross D. Greenfeather, 60, of Park City, died July 20, 1997. He was the owner of Arrow Bail Bonds and a bail bondsman, and a former Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department officer and Fleming Foods supervisor. A wake was held Wednesday evening, and funeral services are at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) at All Saints Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; sons, Ross Jr. of Chatsworth, Calif., Danny Slusser, Richard, both of Wichita; daughters, Rhonda Alcorn, Terri Rikets, both of Wichita; brother, Don of Jay, Okla.; sister, Bobbie Pendell of Lancaster, Calif., and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Diabetes Association. Resthaven Mortuary has charge.
CLAUDE A. SAMUELS
Claude A. Samuels, 81, of Ft. Mitchell, Ky., brother of Charles Samuels of Valley Center, died July 16, 1997. He was a former Valley Center resident. Funeral services were held at Erlinger, Ky.
Other survivors include his twin brother, Clyde of Andover, and a brother, Harry of Thayer.
VERL "BOB" HOWELL
Verl "Bob" Howell, 80, of Park City, retired meat packing plant manager, died July 15, 1997. Funeral services were Saturday morning at Hillside Funeral Home East, Wichita, and Saturday afternoon at Cedar Vale Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Nila; son, Bill of Rose Hill; daughter, Verlene Hartup of Emporia; brother, Louie of Greensboro, N.C.; sisters, Nellie Miller of Grenola, Anna Pair of Winfield, Barbara Graber of Wichita, Mabel Duncan of Cedar Vale, and four grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Hospice Inc. and Northside Church of Christ Know Your Bible program.
ARTHUR W. ALDRICH
Arthur W. Aldrich, 63, of Wichita, father of Roger Aldrich of Valley Center, died July 19, 1997. He was the former owner and operator of Art Aldrich Floor Co. A memorial service was held Wednesday morning at Hillside Funeral Home East, Wichita.
Other survivors include his wife, Oleta; son, Kenny of Wichita; daughters, Barbara Muller, Kathy Winegarner, both of Wichita; brother, Robert of Red Bluff, Calif.; sister, Clara DeLong of Tecumseh, Okla., and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the Valley Center Church of Christ.
DONALD JAMES ROSS
Donald James "Don" Ross, 44, of Andover, son of Al and Lucille Ross of Valley Center, died July 20, 1997. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. today (Thursday) at Faith Baptist Church, Andover.
He was born Aug. 13, 1952, in Wichita, the son of Alfred Ross and Rosella Dodrill.
Other survivors include his brother, Duane of Wichita, and sister, Jody Joan Lawson of Augusta.
A memorial has been established with the church, P.O. Box 7, Andover 67002. Downing & Lahey Mortuary, Wichita, has charge.
LYMAN L. COVEY SR.
Lyman L. Covey Sr., 69, of Wichita, father of Lyman Covey Jr. of Valley Center, died July 18, 1997. He was a retired motion picture projectionist. There was no service.
Other survivors include his wife, Mary of Wichita; son, Curtis of Rose Hill; bothers, Howard of California, Everett of Larned; sisters, Edith Jackson of Greenville, Texas, Lucille Arnold of Medicine Lodge, and four grandchildren.
Resthaven Mortuary had charge.
EARL V. McGOWAN
Earl V. McGowan, 93, of Winfield, father of Jody Leland of Valley Center, died July 18, 1997. He was the retired owner of McGowan Concrete Co. Funeral services were Tuesday morning at First United Methodist Church, Winfield. Masonic intermenty ceremonies were conducted at Highland Cemetery, Winfield.
He was born March 27, 1904, at Winfield, one of 10 children born to Luther A. McGowan and Mary Bunner. He was reared in Winfield, graduating from Winfield High School in 1924. He married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Lea Waldorf, March 29, 1929, in Winfield. She died Nov. 4, 1993. They made their home near Elkhart, later residing in Valley Center before moving to the Winfield area in 1933. They worked in cattle ranching and he managed Deal Lumber Co. in Winfield for 11 years. In 1954, he founded McGowan Concrete Redi-Mix Co. in Winfield, operating the business until his retirement in 1963. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Winfield, and was a 75-year member of Winfield Masonic Lodge #110. He was affiliated with the Queen City chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Wichita Shrine Consistory.
He also was preceded in death by two sons, Dr. James L. McGowan and Paul L. McGowan, and by six brothers and three sisters.
Other survivors include his son, Ed of Arkansas City; daughter, Betty Bradley of Winfield; 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church scholarship fund. Miles Funeral Service had charge.
JANICE KAY TYLER
Janice Kay Tyler, 57, of Rio Rancho, N.M., died July 25, 1997. The former Valley Center resident was a secretary for the Kansas Highway Patrol and a car salesperson in Santa Fe, N.M.
Funeral services were Tuesday morning at Resthaven Mortuary Chapel, Wichita, and burial was at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.
She was born April 27, 1940, in Harrison, Ark., the daughter of Frankie Erma Carr West. Her mother survives.
Other survivors include her daughter, Tammy K. Tyler of Wichita; son, Todd W. Tyler of Rio Rancho, and three grandchildren, Tana K. Gile, Timothy P. Gile and Tyler B. Smith.
ILA CLARA HERMAN
Ila Clara Herman, 84, Herington homemaker and sister of Velva Smith of Park City, died July 27, 1997.
Services are at 9:30 a.m. today (Thursday) at Donahue Funeral Home, Herington.
Other survivors include sons, Cleo Jr. and Tim, both of Herington; daughters, Joyce Mascareno of Herington, Gloria Hall of Aurora, Colo.; brothers, Wayne Bevan and Clyde Bevan of Boulder City, Nev., John Bevan of Loves Park, Ill.; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Dickinson County Hospice.
CLARICE JACOB
Clarice Bright Jacob, 95, rural Valley Center, died July 30, 1997.Bornin Andover Oct. 1, 1901, she was a homemaker.
Services are at 10 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Valley Center. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Bentley.
Survivors include her husband, Homer; sons, Don of Valley Center, Robert and Larry of Sedgwick, and Wayne of Halstead; 13 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home has charge. A memorial has been established with the church.
